Talking With The Sons

(Neither Inherited Your Brand Of Common Sense)

Francis stared at the seating chart. Lovino had to know that Antonio really was trying. Why would Antonio deliberately sabotage his own wedding? Francis narrowed his eyes at where Matthew was seated next to Arthur. "These are some really stupid placements though, I have to agree with Lovino on this one. Maybe he was not paying complete attention?" he whispered to Gilbert, who grabbed the papers out of his hand to stare.

"Ve can fix dis, it isn't like vords are irreversible or anyding," Gilbert said out loud, hitting the paper a couple of times with the back of his hand. "Vhatefer happenet isn't de issue now, fixing it is."

"Words of the wise from our usually impulsive friend," Francis smiled, placing his arm around Antonio's shoulders. "Think about it this way, mon ami. Planning weddings are very stressful. Lovino has done better than what I would have expected him to up until now. He just needed to let some of that stress out."

"Ant by marrying him, you'll be taking dat from him a lot more dan you do alreaty," Gilbert said drolly.

Antonio still looked troubled, despite the reassurances. "Out of everything, I wanted him to know that I at least was taking this seriously. Us seriously. Do you think he really..."

"Believes you aren't?" Gilbert interrupted, thankfully before Antonio could continue further on that route of thinking. "If dat vas de case, he probably vouldn't hafe said yes, ja?"

"Let him blow off the rest of that steam," Francis suggested, squeezing Antonio into his one armed hug. "In the meantime, we can continue to prepare for your wedding. Whether or not there are any doubts, he'll forget about them all when he notices that you have continued to work! Taking it seriously, oui?"

It was good advice, Francis thought. It had worked for him once. Antonio's reaction was unexpected. "Doubts?"

"Shit, Francis," Gilbert glared at him. "Vhat vas dat for?"

A bit nervous, Francis tried to rephrase it. "Everyone has doubts when it comes to getting married!" he laughed. "If not about the person they are getting married to, then about what else will change when you get married. It's entirely natural!" Although Francis should have had doubts to the person he was marrying...

Antonio still looked like he had been hit by a sledgehammer. "I'm supposed to have doubts?"

"Shut up!" Gilbert punched Francis in the arm, which really hurt. Francis recoiled slightly to nurse his wounds. Antonio must be tired, he realized. Usually his friend was not that thick. At least, not when it really mattered.

"Is not having doubts bad?" Antonio asked, panicking.

"No." Gilbert glared at Francis as he put a hand on either of Antonio's shoulders, turning the Spaniard toward him. "Dat is not bad."

"Of course not!" Francis said, offended. "I said that it is natural to have doubts, not that it is necessary. Really, turn your ears on, 'Toni."

"Ah." Antonio responded. Francis wondered how it had come to this. When had it come to him giving someone advice to get and therefore stay married? For the past fifteen years he had been evaluating when it was best to drop in the towel and when it would be best to hold on – all from a financial standpoint. Did he really want to do that to one of his best friends?

Antonio wanted to marry Lovino. It seemed fully stupid and natural at the same time. "What else is still on the to-do list?" Francis asked, rubbing Antonio's shoulders from behind. It was not as if he had not given Antonio any warnings. Marrying a hot headed, insecure, demanding person...

"Cake!"

Francis and Antonio stared at Gilbert. "What?" Francis asked.

"Antonio should go ant see de cake, I dink he't appreciate it," Gilbert exclaimed, as he grabbed Antonio by the arm. "Tell erm... tell Feliks vhere ve are, Francis!"

"But I–" Francis started, giving up instantly as Antonio and Gilbert turned out of the alleyway. With a sigh, he returned inside to do as he was bid, all the while wondering why he was even bothering. Far be it that he tell Antonio what a big mistake he was making – Antonio was unlikely to listen anyway. As he informed those remaining the situation, Francis escaped before he could be roped into anything else.

Oh, did I choose a wonderful time to return to Hearth.

"Papa? What's wrong, eh?"

"Matthieu~" Francis sighed, draping himself over Matthew's shoulders and burying his face into the boy's neck.

"The rehearsal done already? That was rather quick, wasn't it?"

Francis removed himself, standing up straight and pushing his hair back over his shoulder. "At the most I would have said we were halfway through, true," he agreed with a frown. "But it is difficult to practice without the couple in question and the officiant."

"What?"

"Don't ask," Francis shook his head. Matthew, obviously still confused, kept quiet. Collapsing back into a bench (of which he had to say he was surprised existed, after what had happened to some of the others when he was younger), he leaned back so that he was looking straight up at the sky. Matthew sat down next to him. "I'm sorry you came here."

It was quiet. Then there was a snicker. With slight surprise, Francis glanced over at Matthew. "I'm not," he continued to snicker. "You really didn't like this place, eh?"

"I still don't," Francis sighed again. "I ran far away from this place. As far as we could..."

"'We'?" Matthew asked. Francis shook his head.

"Never mind."

"Never mind?" came a voice behind their heads. "Never mind what?"

Both he and Matthew jumped off of the bench, wheeling about to see Alfred. "Jesus!" Matthew exclaimed, gripping at his chest. "Don't do that, eh!"

"Now Matthieu, you know better than that," Francis found himself saying instantly. Matthew turned his irritated look on him before looking back at Alfred.

"Sheesh, sorry," Alfred rose his hands in surrender, slight grin on his face. "I was just stopping by, I wanted to ask if you guys wanted to stop by for dinner."

"Count me in," said Matthew. Francis watched Alfred's face for any sign of deviousness, because that invitation seemed on the path of conniving evil. Alfred smiled, looking innocent. Which meant he was planning something. Francis could only assume as much.

"Sorry, I'll have to decline," Francis smiled apologetically. "Why don't you invite Kiku instead?"

The strangest thing happened then. Alfred went stark red, spluttered something out, and then skedaddled.

"Alfred? Alfred!" Matthew called after. "What was that about, eh?"

A taste of his own medicine, Francis finally decided. Though he wondered what on earth could have happened in such a short time to have a mention of Kiku cause that sort of reaction. Had something happened? Not that it was any of his business, but...

Huh.


Notes:

Actually, Antonio did seat Matthew by Arthur. Francis is just being a baby.

Matthew is smart and stays out of the way of these things. The most trouble he has to deal with is whatever Ivan or Alfred push him in. Thankfully he is missing Ivan's current issue, that would definitely be a strain.